Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the NWT Association of Municipalities held their annual general meeting in Iqaluit, April 28th to May 1st.
Representing the GNWT at these meetings were the Premier and myself, as well as MLAs, Mr. Dent, Mr. Ballantyne, Mr. Zoe and Mr. Patterson. Our representation speaks to the importance the GNWT places on the role of the NWT Association of Municipalities as a collective voice for matters of concern to municipal governments.
Also in attendance at the AGM were Member of Parliament, Mr. Jack Anawak, senior representatives of the RCMP, Federation of Canadian Municipalities representatives, special guests from Goose Bay, Labrador, as well as a number of senior GNWT public servants.
The NWTAM is made up of 47 member municipalities and the association is proud to point out that they are the only provincial/territorial association with 100 per cent membership of eligible municipalities. Forty member municipalities were represented at the association's 1995 AGM, an excellent turn-out.
A highlight of this year's AGM was a two-day planning session on municipalities and the criminal justice system. Municipalities are concerned that they have the best possible local policing and protection. Discussions were far ranging on the possibilities for integrated and coordinated local policing.
As Minister of MACA, I had the opportunity to officially invite the association's participation in our review of municipal legislation, which I announced in this House on April 27th. We also agreed to the association's participation in a review of certain aspects of the municipal capital assistance policy (MCAP), particularly the formula for community ability to contribute, which determines the required levels of community contributions to capital projects.
Elections were held for the new executive of the association and I would like to congratulate Mayor Dennis Bevington of Fort Smith on being elected president of the association for the coming year.
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I would also like to congratulate other Members of the newly-elected board of directors:
Mayor Charlie Furlong, Aklavik; Mayor Joe Kunuk, Iqaluit; Mayor Garry Hubert, Fort Liard; Mayor Tabitha Kalluk, Resolute Bay; councillor Peter Kritaqliluk, Arviat; Mayor Dave Lovell, Yellowknife; Mayor Tom Zubko, Inuvik; and, councillor Vern Tordoff, Hay River. Mr. Speaker, this list attests to the representativeness of the association and its unique position as a voice for municipal governments in the NWT.
I wish to thank the association for their invitation and their hospitality. The staff of the association were helpful and always accommodating. I look forward to working with the association's board of directors and their president in the coming months. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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